Excelsior Correspondent
BARAMULLA, Dec 2: Expressing satisfaction over the peaceful conduct of second phase of polling in Jammu and Kashmir, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today said the ongoing Assembly elections are a testing time for the people, as they would be not just electing their representatives for governance, but chalking out a new political and economic course for the State.
Addressing election rallies in Pattan and Sopore Assembly segments of this North Kashmir district, Mufti urged people not to let their power to determine the State’s destiny be misused by the divisive elements to impair the distinct identity and special constitutional position of Jammu and Kashmir. He, however, cautioned that people’s encouraging participation in ongoing polls should not be misconstrued as an indication of the Kashmir issue having disappeared without addressing it.
“We should not mislead ourselves about brushing the issue under the carpet as was done on earlier occasions,” he said and called upon the country’s leadership to commit itself with political will to address all the dimensions of the problem in a manner that balances and promotes enduring political and economic stability in the region.
Mufti said the people’s reassertion of trust in the democratic means for the resolution of their problems, offers fresh opportunity to the Government of India to consolidate the peace efforts, and rejuvenate the resolution and reconciliation process through tangible measures. He reiterated his party’s resolve to work hand-in-hand with the progressive and democratic forces in the country and the region for the resolution of the Kashmir problem and the problems confronting Jammu and Kashmir. “Our focus would be on fulfilling the party’s unfinished agenda of ensuring political stability and economic prosperity for the people in all the regions and sub regions of the State,” he said and added that both short and long term measures would be taken to get the State and its people their due share of the economic development.
Mufti said the key to the State’s prosperity lies in the economic well-being of its citizens. He hoped that the State would enter into a new era of political stability and economic prosperity with the formation of the new Government after the ongoing polls.
Mufti said the youth constitute a vital and vibrant human resource for Jammu & Kashmir and they have a right, as well as an obligation, to participate and contribute actively in the endeavor for the State’s political and economic emancipation. “We have to invest in this enterprise of hope to secure a peaceful and prosperous future for our coming generations,” he said.
Stressing the need for quality intra and inter-State connectivity, Mufti said lack of good road communication network is one of the reasons for the State’s sluggish economic progress. He said if it comes to power, Srinagar-Baramulla-Uri road and Srinagar-Kupwara roads would be developed as expressways. He said Sopore Fruit Mandi, one of the oldest mandis in the State, would be developed on a mega scale by equipping with all the allied facilities on modern lines to provide better marketing facilities to the fruit growers.
Speaking on the occasion, the senior party leader and Member of Parliament, Muzzafar Hussain Baig said the PDP has performed extremely well in first two phases of elections in the State and the party is confident of repeating its performance in the remaining phases as well. He said there is a pro-PDP wave sweeping the State and the party is thankful to the people for reposing their faith and trust in the party’s leadership and pragmatic agenda.
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